Marc Steutel celebrated a century of Championship games at the Newcastle helm with the statement win that put the Eagles back at the heart of the postseason conversation.

The hosts exacted revenge for a 31-point defeat at the hands of Manchester Basketball earlier this month thanks to a thrilling fourth quarter.

And the ruthless manner in which Newcastle dismantled Super League Basketball’s form team down the stretch sent a message to the club’s top flight rivals heading into the final week of regular season action.

An 89-80 win against Herman Mandole’s stacked Manchester secured the Eagles’ playoff place with four league games to spare.

But a seven-player rotation was under pressure to stay in touch throughout a punishing first half as the visitors pounded the offensive glass and picked off open looks for fun.

Newcastle conceded eight offensive boards inside the opening 12 minutes and conceded 14 fast break points by half-time as Mandole’s fluid roster opened up an eight-point lead at the break.

But whatever Steutel said in the locker room resonated with his 2025 Trophy winners as the Eagles re-emerged faster, keener and more focused.

Not for the first time in his Newcastle career it was do-it-all Great Britain international Josh Ward-Hibbert who led from the front after the restart.

The experienced guard was everywhere as the men in black began hunting down their opposite numbers, chasing lost causes and hauling themselves back into the battle of the boards.

Ward-Hibbert fully deserved another MVP nod after stacking the stat sheet with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.

And if the former London and Leicester favourite can maintain this form next month then the Eagles have a genuine shot at playoff glory.

Ward-Hibbert was one of five Newcastle stars in double figures on a night when the home side finally looked back to their SLB best.

A run of nine league losses in 10 games had all but shattered dreams of a top four finish with Manchester the main beneficiary of that alarming slide.

The visitors arrived on Tyneside as the SLB’s hottest team with nine wins in 10.

But Mike Okauru (20), Christian James (17), De’Sean Allen-Eikens (16) and Cole Long (13) were right behind Ward-Hibbert in the MVP debate as the Eagles emphatically halted their Championship skid.

Should Seneca Knight return to action in time for the Eagles’ playoff quarter-final first leg tie at the Vertu Motors Arena on May 2 there’s every reason to believe the club can go all the way to next month’s London final.

And while the US star is unlikely to figure in Saturday’s trip to Surrey or Newcastle’s Easter Monday battle with Bristol, at least he’s shed the protective boot that set alarm bells ringing the previous week.

The Eagles head to Surrey full of confidence after clinching the final quarter against Manchester 21-12.

Indeed, it was only a buzzer-beating triple from Elijah Ifejeh that saw the visitors hit double figures in a fourth period dominated by Newcastle’s suffocating defence.

In the final analysis Steutel’s side scored 19 points off 19 turnovers to secure an invaluable victory against the SLB’s most improved team.

And right now the Championship table points to an Eagles-Manchester rematch in what would be a mouthwatering playoff quarter-final with tickets for the home first leg on Friday 2 May available now from the box office.